InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile Destination

Go to Belmont Marina and take a sailboat onto Lake Michigan with 'Sail Chicago'. If you want, you can even be part of the crew. If you do the late evening trip on Wednesdays or Saturdays during the summer months, being on the lake will give you the best view of the beautiful fireworks on Navy Pier.

Visit the Shedd Aquarium, one of the largest aquarium in North America and the largest inland salt water tank. Just a ten minute drive from the hotel. There are ever-changing special exhibitions throughout the year. Learn about our water friends not only from our great oceans but from the surronding great lakes with it's varied eco-systems.

Go up to the 96th floor of the Hancock Tower and enjoy the spectacular views of Chicago's skyline and the lake, it will take your breath away. while doing you can sit back and relax and partake of a bevarage or a light snack. The Hancock Tower is considered the grandfather of all skyscrpers because of its inovative design that allowed future buildings to reach up into the sky.

Enjoy a deep dish pizza - a Chicago staple - Try the one at Gino's East. If it leaves an unforgetable taste in your mouth you can call them a day before you depart our city and have them prepare a frozen one for you to take back home to savor at your liesure.

Take a ride on the Chicago's First Lady Architectural boat tour from Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive and learn interesting facts about Chicago's beautiful buildings and magnificent skyline. Each tour is conducted by a volunteer of the Chicago Architectural Foundation and people have marveled at the depth of their knowledge and insight into the rebuilding of this great city after the fire that left a blank canvass for builder and architects from around the world.

Enjoy a free concert in Millennium Park at the famous Pritzker Pavilion on many summer evenings or walk around the park through its garden paths or lounge on the lawn and do some people-watching. Take in Cloud Gate, a massive chrome sculpture in the park that we affectionally call "The Bean" because of its apperance. The surface shows a beautiful reflective scene of the Chicago Skyline.

Tip: The tour can also be done self guided. You can rent an Ipod Shuffle at the Home Studio and walk the neighborhood at your own pace. The only downside is that some of the homes are inhabited and cannot be entererd except for a private viewing. The audio tour can also be done from your car during inclement weather and you can make a picnic of the day. Chicago is famous for its architecture and one of its great sons was Frank Lloyd Wright. You can see much of his influence around Chicago.

Check out the latest giant Lego creation at this fun venue that nurtures the kid in all of us. Hidden away on the third floor of the Westfield Mall located on Michigan Ave. right across the street from the hotel.

Unique for a city like Chicago, there are several paths that take you to the concrete walks that go north and south of the downtown Chicago. Most of the lake front is accessible to the general public and makes for beautiful running, biking or walking trails. Many people actually bike or roller skate to work and the sunsets over the lake are spectacular to watch while feeling the soft breezes that come off the lake. Oak Street beach and North Ave. beach are also accessible from the trails.